The Hannibal Arts Council’s 36th annual Autumn Historic Folklife Festival will begin with a children’s parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, on North Main Street. The folklife festival will continue until 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21.

Children will line up for the parade at 9:40 a.m. Oct. 20 at the HAC, 105 S. Main St. It will be led by Sam Walker playing bagpipes and members of the Glee Club Kids of Hannibal. In case of rain, the children’s parade will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21.

The two-day folklife festival will feature 20 food booths and more than 100 exhibits by artisans and craftsmen, demonstrating and selling handmade traditional arts and crafts. Fourteen exhibitors are making their local festival debut.

HAC Executive Director Michael Gaines noted the farmer’s market area on Center Street at North Main is very popular, and will be filled with booths where fall produce items will be offered.

A special children’s area at Hill and Main streets will be coordinated by the Hannibal Elementary LEAP Program.

“Traditional tunes, food cooked on wood stoves and cider fresh from the apple press” are among the festival features that offer “a warm atmosphere for everyone,” Gaines said, noting that “the 1800s-themed festival has been voted favorite festival in the area, consistently draws thousands of visitors from the Midwest region.”

Local organizations offer the same festival food each year, Gaines said, and there are no new food booths this year, because “It is such a good fund-raiser for the groups doing it, it is rare for one to not return.”

In addition to attracting people from a wide area, Gaines said, “we are excited that one of the big riverboats is going to be docked in Hannibal on Sunday (Oct. 21), and the passengers can attend the festival,” and also, people attending the festival can see the riverboat.

A special festival event will be at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, when First Christian Church hosts an old-time church service at North Main and Bird streets. This is prior to the 10 a.m. festival opening so the exhibitors may also attend.

Gaines noted that this year the HAC requested local artist Steve Ayers to create a special mug for this 36th festival. The mugs will be sold at the HAC drink booths, where apple cider, coffee, root beer and bottles of water will be available. The mugs will cost $15, filled with a drink. Proceeds will benefit the HAC.

In addition to attending the festival the public may become involved by volunteering in two-hour or three-hour shifts at the HAC drink booths. On Thursday there were open shifts on both days, Gaines said. To volunteer, call the HAC at 573) 221-6545 or email kerrieo@hannibalarts.com.

Page 2 of 2 - One volunteer has been helping since the first year, Gaines said. This is local artist Len Moss, who will be serving drinks again this year, at age 95.

Gaines was pleased to report all the entertainers are based in the Hannibal area. The Never Ready For Prime Time Players is composed of local musicians performing as a new group, he said. Also, Judy Schmidt, a hammered dulcimer player, is a former national champion hammer dulcimer player.

The entertainment schedule includes the following events.

Saturday, Oct. 20 (festival hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.):

• 10 a.m. – Children’s parade

• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – LEAP children’s area – Hill and Main

• 11 a.m. – RaluGerri - North Stage

• 11 a.m. – Judy Schmidt and Friends – South Stage

• Noon - Never Ready For Prime Time Players - North Stage

• 1 p.m. – Judy Schmidt and Friends – North Stage

• 1 p.m. – Lucky Star Stompers – Main and Center

• 2 p.m. – RaluGerri - North Stage

• 2 p.m. – RagTag – South Stage

• 3 p.m. – Never Ready For Prime Time Players - North Stage

Sunday, Oct. 21 ( festival hours) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

• 9:30 a.m. - Old-time church service, Main and Bird

• 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Children’s area

• 11 a.m. – Judy Schmidt and Friends – South Stage

• Noon - RaluGerri – North Stage

• 1 p.m. – Judy Schmidt and Friends – North Stage

• 2 p.m. – RaluGerri – North Stage

• 2 p.m. – RagTag – South Stage

In addition to the entertainment schedule, two strolling musicians will be performing, Daniel Ebers on mandolin and L.A. Suess on banjo, harmonica and mandolin. Also, Mark Holland will play his Native American flute at a booth.

For more about the festival and/or a list of exhibitors, contact the HAC at (573) 221-6545 or see the website, hannibalarts.com.